Taiwan holds Asia’s largest pride parade as it waits for gay marriage

A sea of rainbow flags and glitzy costumes filled downtown Taipei Saturday as tens of thousands marched in Asia’s largest gay pride parade, the first since Taiwan’s top court ruled in favour of gay marriage.

The island looks set to become the first place in Asia to legalise gay marriage after the constitutional court said in May that laws preventing same-sex unions violated the guarantee of freedom of marriage.

A supporter of same-sex rights holds a sign during a gay pride parade in Taipei on October 28, 2017. Photo: Sam Yeh/AFP.

It gave the government two years to implement the decision.

The anticipation was felt in Saturday’s parade, as dancing crowds in colourful wigs and sequined outfits made their way through the capital’s centre alongside vans blasting music.

“A lot of people cannot afford to wait two years,” said Joseph Wu, 46, dressed in a matching kilt and rainbow turban with his partner of six years.

“We just want the same things heterosexual couples have. We also do our military service, we pay the same taxes, so why can’t we have the same thing?” he said.

Hino Chen, 29, echoed this sentiment, adding that he hopes the government will change the civil code rather than enact a separate law to enable gay marriage — which critics say is still discriminatory.

“We are the same. We also want to start our own families,” he told AFP.

Gay rights activists expressed frustration last month when a Taipei administrative court rejected a request from a lesbian couple to marry, saying they can only register when relevant laws are in place.

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